Hanging device

ABSTRACT

A hanging device is provided including a hook, an upper hanging portion attached below the hook, a downwardly extending shaft extending downwardly from the upper hanging portion, and a lower hanging portion attached at a lower extremity of the extended shaft. A hanging device is also provided including a hook, a downwardly extending shaft extending downwardly from the hook, a lower hanging portion attached at a lower extremity of the extended shaft, and a general child-pleasing shape which incorporates each of the hook, downwardly extending shaft and lower hanging portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a household article. More particularly,and in a preferred intended use, the present invention relates to ahanging device for hanging clothing.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Simplicity and organization are two elements for which most individualsstrive. As many individuals lead fast-paced and complex lives,organizing belongings can help save time and help to simplify dailyactivities. The abundance of products designed to help people becomeorganized testifies to the aspiration of the majority of people to maketheir lives simpler and mange their time more efficiently.

New products that are being created for the purpose of bringingsimplicity and organization to people's lives typically relate to tasksthat are carried out on a daily basis. Products that have to do withcleaning, caring for children, and preparing meals are becomingincreasingly prevalent. Individuals are more apt to spend money on anitem when it will save them time or money later, or will make particulartasks easier.

Organizing clothing is a way in which individuals can ensure that theyare able to keep their home neat, while also ensuring that they canlocate clothing to wear each day. Most individuals keep clothing foldedin dresser drawers in addition to hanging in a closet. As closet railsare customarily installed high so that clothes can hang without touchingthe ground, they can be too high for children, persons of diminutivestature, or the wheelchair-bound to reach.

U.S. Pat. No. 4,364,496, issued Dec. 21, 1992 to BRIDGEMAN entitled“Coat hanger” describes a hanger having an elongated shaft, a triangularportion and a pair of hooks located at either end of the elongatedshaft. Extending radially outward from the elongated shaft near one ofthe pair of hooks, a flange is provided for engaging the triangulargarment supporting portion. The orientation of the triangular garmentsupporting portion can be reversed with respect to the elongated shaftso as to be operable to support a garment hanging from either of thepair of hooks.

Also known in the art are U.S. Pat. No. 5,397,038 issued Mar. 14, 1995to HUNT entitled “Expandable garment hanger” and U.S. design patent No.376,916 issued Dec. 31, 1996 to McDOWELL et al. entitled <<Garmenthanger>>, which describe similar adjustable garment hangers.

Also known in the art are the various disadvantages associated with theuse of these types of conventional hangers and the like.

Further known in the art is U.S. Pat. No. 6,443,337 issued Sep. 3, 2002to MUEHLHOUSER entitled “Ornamental hangers” which describes elongatedhangers for children with an ornamental figure built thereon.

Hence, there remains to need for a hanging device which, by virtue ofits design and components, will be able to overcome some of these knownprior art problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a hanging device forhanging a pair of garments which by virtue of its design and componentssatisfies some of the above-mentioned needs and is thus an improvementover related devices and/or hangers known in the prior art.

In accordance with a first aspect of the present invention, the aboveobject is achieved, as will be easily understood, with a hanging devicesuch as the one briefly described herein and such as the one exemplifiedin the accompanying drawings. More particularly, a hanging device isprovided including a hook, an upper hanging portion attached below thehook, a downwardly extending shaft extending downwardly from the upperhanging portion, and a lower hanging portion attached at a lowerextremity of the extended shaft.

In accordance with a second aspect of the present invention, the aboveobject is achieved, by a hanging device including a hook, a downwardlyextending shaft extending downwardly from the hook, a lower hangingportion attached at a lower extremity of the extended shaft, and ageneral child-pleasing shape which incorporates each of the hook,downwardly extending shaft and lower hanging portion.

The invention and its advantages will be better understood by readingthe following non-restrictive description of a preferred embodimentthereof, made with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent uponreading the detailed description and upon referring to the drawings inwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hanging device in accordance with anembodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the hanging device shown in FIG. 1taken alone lines A-A.

FIG. 3 is a detailed view of the hanging device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the hanging device, shown in an adjustedposition.

FIGS. 5 to 9 are front views of a hanging device in accordance withanother embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

In the following description the same numeral references refer tosimilar elements. The embodiment shown in the figures are preferred, forexemplification of purpose only.

In addition, although the preferred embodiments of the present inventionas illustrated in the accompanying drawings comprise various components,etc., and although the preferred embodiments of the hanging device andcorresponding parts of the present invention as shown consist of certaingeometrical configurations as explained and illustrated herein, not allof these components and geometries are essential to the invention andthus should not be taken in their restrictive sense, i.e. thesecomponents and geometries should not be taken as to limit the scope ofthe present invention. It is to be understood, as also apparent to aperson skilled in the art, that other suitable components andcooperation therebetween, as well as other suitable geometricalconfigurations may be used for the hanging device according to thepresent invention, as will be briefly explained herein and as can beeasily inferred herefrom by a person skilled in the art, withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, there is shown a hanging device 10including a hook for engaging a rail, bar, peg or the like, an upperhanging portion 14, a lower hanging portion 18, and a downwardlyextending rod 16 separating the two. The rod 16 passes through apertures20 and 22 of the upper and lower hanging portions 14 and 18,respectively. The rod 16 is preferably unitary with the hook 12 at anupper end 24, and terminates with a locking mechanism 26 at a lower end28.

In a preferred embodiment, the rod 16 is a threaded rod having athreaded surface 24 extending along at least a portion of its exteriorsurface. The threaded surface 24 engages a corresponding threadedsurface 30 inside the aperture 22 of the lower hanging portion 18. Inthe present embodiment, the locking mechanism 26 can be a nut 26operable to engage the threaded surface 24 at the lower end 28 of therod 16 and thereby prevent the lower hanging portion 18 from descending.

Alternatively, the inner surface 30 of the aperture 22 need not directlyengage the threaded surface 24 of the rod 16. Rather, the lower hangingportion 18 can be kept in place solely by the nut 26, possibly incombination with another nut (not shown) positioned on the rod 16 abovethe lower hanging portion 18. In order to prevent the lower hangingportion 18 from rotating freely about the rod 16, the rod 16 may bekeyed and the aperture 22 may comprise a mating keyway.

In use, the upper hanging portion 14 is operable to support and retain agarment (not shown), for example a robe, as is known in the art.Advantageously, the lower hanging portion 18 is further provided forreceiving an additional garment. As disclosed herein, the hanging device10 advantageously enables individuals in wheel chairs and those who arenot tall enough, children for example, to be able to reach a garmenthanging from the lower portion 18 in addition to providing the upperportion 14 for retaining a garment at a regular height.

Alternatively, the lower hanging portion 18 can be used to storegarments which are not likely to be immediately required, while theupper hanging portion 14 is used to suspend everyday garments. Forexample, the upper and lower hanging portions may each be used to hanggarments which are each suitable to be worn in different seasons. Inthis manner, even when a garment is out of season, such as a lightspring/fall jacket in the winter months, the garment can still be storedin the closet on the same hanging device 10 as a more seasonallyappropriate garment, in this case a heavy winter coat, withoutpreventing access thereto. The out-of-season garment stored on the lowerhanging portion 18 can then replace the seasonal garment on the upperhanging portion 14 at the end of that season, and vice versa.

Similarly, the hanging device 10 is operable to retain the multiplepieces of a clothing ensemble, or otherwise matching garments.

The device 10 is preferably further operable to allow a user to adjustthe position of the lower hanging portion 18 along the downwardlyextending rod 16. Referring to FIG. 4, there is shown the hanging device10 with the lower hanging portion 18 being positioned in an intermediateposition between the upper and lower ends 24 and 28, at a height abovethat shown in the previous figures. By rotating the lower hangingportion 18 about the rod 16 in a particular direction as it engages thethreaded surface 30 of aperture 22, the lower hanging portion 18 can beraised or lowered with respect to the upper hanging portion 14 and thehook 12. The nut 26 is then used to retain the lower hanging portion 18at the desired height. The lower hanging portion 18 may also be solelyretained from underneath by the nut 26, or sandwiched between two nutsat the desired height, in accordance with the alternative embodimentdiscussed hereinabove in which the hanging portion 18 does not directlyengage the rod 16.

This operability enables a user to customize the height to which thelower hanging portion 18 is lowered from the hook 12. Furthermore, thisoperability allows a parent to periodically raise the lower hangingportion 18 as their child grows.

As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, further methodsand arrangements of adjusting the height of the lower hanging portion 18are possible, and well within the scope of the present invention. Forexample, in place of the threaded surface 24, the rod 16 may be providedwith a series of physical markings, such as projections or indentations,operable to engage a corresponding physical marking or markings on thelower hanging portion 18. More specifically, the rod 16 can be providedwith a series of indentations demarcating discreet positions thereon forengagement with a complementary projection, or pair of complementaryprojections inwards from the surface 30 of aperture 22. Theseprojections are preferably resilient or spring-loaded.

Alternatively, a collar having a physical marking for engaging the rod16 could be provided the between the lower hanging portion 18 and therod 16. Such a collar would be expandable when hanging portion isremoved so that it may be moved along the rod 16 from marking tomarking, and operable to contract and engage a given marking as thehanging portion is fitted therearound, as is commonly used in utilityshelving.

In addition, the indentations along the rod can further be utilized toprovide areas of reduced thickness in the rod 16 used to break offunused portions thereof. Such indentations could provide specific pointsof structural weakness operable to facilitate a clean breakage of therod 16 in order to remove the lower portion 32 of the rod 16 when achild is tall enough to use the hanging device 10 in a higher position.

Referring to FIGS. 5 to 9, there is shown a hanging device 50 inaccordance with another embodiment of the present invention. Hangingdevice 50 includes a hook 52, a downwardly extending portion 56, a lowerhanging portion 58 extending outwardly therefrom for engaging a garment,and a general child-pleasing shape 60. FIGS. 5 to 9 provide a monkeyshape 60, a giraffe shape 60, a snake shape 60, an elephant shape 60 andan orca shape 60, respectively.

In addition, the general child-pleasing shape 60 incorporates all thecomponents of the hanging device 50. For example, the general childpleasing shape illustrated in FIG. 5 is a monkey having a hook 52 shapedlike a banana, a downwardly extending portion 56 shaped like a tailholding the banana, and a lower hanging portion 58 formed with theremainder of the monkey's body. Similarly, the general child pleasingshape illustrated in FIG. 6 is a giraffe wherein a hook 52 is formed bythe giraffe's head, the downwardly extending portion 56 is formed by itsneck, and the lower hanging portion 58 is formed by its outwardlyextending legs. In this manner, a child asked to hang up or put on agarment will not see a cold metal or plastic hanger, but rather acolorful plaything or friendly character.

In use, the downwardly extending portion 56 enables access to a garmenthung from the lower hanging portion 58 by a child of insufficient heightto reach the garment were it hung from a regular hanger. In addition,the general child-pleasing shape 60 encourages the child to seek agarment chosen by a parent or guardian, thereby giving the child ameasure of independence and further engaging the child in the dressingprocess.

As will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art, the generalchild-pleasing shape 60 can also be, for example, the shape of anotherjungle creature, such as a lion or a tiger, an ocean creature such as anoctopus, a shark, a sea horse, a jelly fish or a dolphin, or indeed aforest creature such as a horse or a unicorn. Also within the scope ofthe present invention are other non-animal related shapes, such asvehicles, food products, sports equipment or other child-pleasing items.

The approximate dimension of the device 10 is preferably about 10 inchesin length, 20 to 24 inches in height, and ½ inch in width.

The present invention could be created in a variety of colors in orderto increase its aesthetic appeal to consumers and manufactured usingvarious combinations of plastic, wood, and metal.

Any plastic components of device 10 are preferably formed with the useof plastic molding techniques, such as injection molding or blowmolding. Injection molding is a process that has been in use since the1920s and provides versatility almost unmatched in the mass productionof any material. It requires that melted plastic be forcefully injectedinto relatively cool molds. As the plastic begins to harden, it takes onthe shape of the mold cavity and, when cool, requires few post moldingoperations. Other advantages of this process include its speed ofproduction and its ability to allow multiple parts to be simultaneouslymolded.

The present invention is be extremely easy to use and offers a simpleand convenient alternative to having to lower a closet rail. For thosewho are not so inclined, do not have the time, or are not permitted tomodify rental property, the hanging device 10 would prove verybeneficial. The use of the hanging device 10 will also result in thosein wheelchairs, of diminutive stature, or children feeling moreindependent and being able to do more unassisted, while still providinga utility to an adult of normal height.

As being now better appreciated, the present invention is an improvementand presents several advantages over other related devices and/ormethods known in the prior art. Of course, numerous modifications couldbe made to the above-described embodiments without departing from thescope of the invention, as apparent to a person skilled in the art.While a specific embodiment of the present invention has been describedand illustrated, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art thatnumerous modifications and variations can be made without departing fromthe scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

1. A hanging device for hanging garments comprising a hook, an upperhanging portion attached below the hook, a downwardly extending shaftextending downwardly from the upper hanging portion, and a lower hangingportion attached at a lower extremity of the extended shaft.
 2. Ahanging device for hanging garments comprising a hook, a downwardlyextending shaft extending downwardly from the hook, a lower hangingportion attached at a lower extremity of the extended shaft, and ageneral child-pleasing shape which incorporates each of the hook, thedownwardly extending shaft and the lower hanging portion.